Onions, Parfaits and People Have Layers in Common

One of the hardest things for me has to be to lose the judgmental attitude that all too often creeps into my life. I see a person and immediately form opinions, and often I find out later that, whoops! that was a really stupid move. It's something that I'm actively trying to work on, and I wonder most days if I'm getting anywhere.

The flip side of this is that I find myself judged and it infuriates me.

Which, in retrospect, is really ridiculous - because, as I've been told over and over, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Yadda, yadda.I know I'm a nice person, I know I have good qualities.

I've been really trying to make some new friends, and part of the fun of that is peeling back the layers and seeing that the person that I thought was a certain way is, in reality, a much different type of person. And I often wonder if people think the same of me. Do you remember the scene in Shrek - Donkey and Shrek are discussing layers, and the debate becomes between onions having layers and parfaits having layers. People have layers too, many of them deep and still and undiscovered.

(I can't get this STUPID italicize to depart and it's driving me c-r-a-z-y. I swear I'm not using it to be dramatic. SWEAR.)

So I thought, in the interest of discussing layers and getting to know people - I'd revive an oldie but goodie meme that I did a long time ago - so long ago that I actually can't find it in my archives. Feel free to play along and let me know in the comments. Is there something in these answers that really stuns you? I'd be really interested in hearing it!

The layers of me

layer one
name: Carmen
birth date: November 14
birthplace: Missouri
current location: Va
eye color: green
hair color: auburn
height: 5’6"
righty or lefty: righty and left. I'm very twisted
zodiac sign: Scorpio.

layer two
your heritage: Some of everything. I claim Irish because I really like it. Random, I know
the shoes you wore today: polka dot flip flops
your weakness: too many to list but bread for one
your fears: Not being good enough
your perfect pizza: cheese, tomatoes, carmelized onions, sausage

layer three
your most overused phrase: seriously
your first waking thoughts: what time is it? Already?
your best physical feature: boobs. Eyes.
your favorite memory: I have no idea

layer four
pepsi or coke: Diet Mountain Dew, but if I must choose from those two it’s coke..
mcdonald’s or burger king: Neither
single or group dates: single
adidas or nike: I don't care
lipton ice tea or nestea: Cold brewed unsweetened iced tea
cappuccino or coffee: as long as it has caffeine, I'm good

layer five
smoke: no
cuss: more than I should
sing: way more often than I should. In the car, in the shower, to my kids
do you think you’ve been in love: yes
want to go to college: yes, always want to go back, if I could ever get the time and money conundrum solved
liked high school: yes.
want to get married: already did this
believe in yourself: not really. I'm working on this
get motion sickness: oh, yeah. On boats and rollercoasters especially
think you’re attractive: not really
think you’re a health freak: no I try to live a healthy lifestyle but fresh bread, cheeses and pastas are my downfall
get along with your parents: yes to both - wasn't always this way but, thank God, both waited for me to grow the heck up
like thunderstorms: Good God YES, love them
play an instrument: nope

layer six
in the past month…
drank alcohol: yes
smoked: no
done a drug: no
made out: uh, my kids and parents read here. No way.
gone on a date: yes
gone to the mall: Back to school shoe shopping
eaten an entire box of oreos: Don't even like them
eaten sushi: no. HATE IT.
been on stage: no
been dumped: no .
gone skating: no

made homemade cookies: yes
gone skinny dipping: no
dyed your hair: yes
stolen anything: no
you sound boring: No, I sound like a parent.

Remember this is only in the past month

layer seven
ever…
played a game that required removal of clothing: yes.
if so, was it mixed company: yes.
been trashed or extremely intoxicated: yes
been caught “doing something”: yes
been called a tease: no
gotten beaten up: yes. Every single day in Muay Thai class
shoplifted: no
changed who you were to fit in: this is a BAD habit of mine. I'm trying desperately to break it.

layer eight
age you hope to be married: come and gone
numbers and names of children: You already know this
describe your dream wedding: OVER
how do you want to die: oldest woman alive in my sleep
where do you want to go to college: back in the USA
what do you want to be when you grow up: oldest sane woman ever recorded
what country would you most like to visit: Ireland/Scotland

layer nine
number of drugs taken illegally: none
number of people i could trust with my life: four
number of cds that i own: not that many anymore, most of them have been burned to my iPod and given away
number of piercings: four - ears only
number of tattoos: two so far
number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Lots. Mostly for this blog but I've had stuff picked up and syndicated that I wrote for other sites
number of scars on my body: one on my knee from a bed spring and one on my ear from jaw surgery and one from a hernia repair
number of things in my past that i regret: Googleplex is TOO a word

I'm done. Someone pass me the chips - 7 layer dip is one of my favorites.

Comments

[deb]

Only 2 scars?? Really?? I must have 20 - so which of us is the more unusual? Notice how I skated over all the other stuff?

(don't you love these quizzes obviously written by some teen??)

[Nicole]

I have a confession. I love memes. So I definitely stole this one.

http://motheringwithmary.blogspot.com/2010/08/layers-of-meme.html

[amie]

Love all your layers_ none of this is too surprisng- been reading a long time :)

[Sandra]

i don't see you as being a potty mouth. that one surprised me. LOL

[Headless Mom]

I did it. Funny. Most of our answers are the same or very similar. Hmmmmm.

[Brandy]

I'm betting you're no where near boring! Some of my answers would be similar.

[LizP]

I just caught up with a months worth of your blog (went back to work after 8 months). Thanks for letting me borrow the meme for my blog (with appropriate credit given to you!)

[Tricia]

I really like this meme! And I really liked learning all this fun stuff about you. I've been reading you forever, but I haven't commented in a long time. I've been out of the social media circle but I'm back, and this was awesome! Thanks for the meme!

[A Simple Twist of Faith]

Okay, I'm playing along too!

[Retro Jordans]

Wow, cool to see that website, thanks for the link! And thanks for being informative and interesting. You always inspire me.

[UKCraftySal]

This was great! I learned lots more about you (me, nosy?!).

[MamaCas]

How about CAKE?! EVERYBODY loves cake! (I love donkey...he's the best!)

[Angela]

I remember this meme. I did it years ago. Fun.

[Issa]

I'm going to do this on my blog tomorrow if that's okay. Am unable to say things I want/need too...so a meme seems perfect. :)

[Melissa]

I HAD to do it... couldn't resist!

http://flipflopsandfreckles.com/2010/08/30/the-layers-of-me/